Siphon generator and circulator for locomotive boilers



fi 9 3 G. H. EMERSQN ET AL L fi SKI H6 GENERATOR AND CIRCULATOR FDR LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS Filed Dec. 4, 1930 3 Sheets-Shee'i l gwomtozs George 6 [Mensa/7',

Ange M Elwin. a. H. EMERSQN ET AL L E SIPHGH GENERATOR AND CIRGULATOR FOR LQGOMOTIVE BOILERS Filed Dec. 4/1930 3,Sheets-Sheet 2 m n 351,, N 6'40) 9/5/7/9/150/1,

E. H. EMEREaON ET AL SIPHON GENERATOR AND CIRCULA'I'OR FOR LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS Filed Dec. 4, 1930' 3 Sheets-She's; 3

gwuemto as:

Geo/ye HEme/zson,

Patented Aug. 11,- 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oF cE GEOB'GE H. EMERSON A ND WILLIAM WHI'ISITT, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND i SIPHON GENERATOR AND CIROULATOB FOR LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS Applieatfon filed December, 4, 1930. Serial No. 500.1253. k}

. This invention relates to a si hon gen-,

erator and water circulator for ocomotive boilers, designed for use inthe fire-boxes of such boilers for increasing the steam generating capacity of the boiler and promoting the circulation of the water between the various water containing parts of the boiler. More particularly the invention relates to a si hon I generator and water circulator whic will increase the steam generating area of the boiler to amaterial extent while at the same time establishing a flow of water between the side water legs and the water space above the crown sheet, so as to efi'ect a siphonic flow of the water over the crown sheet'to prevent any portion thereof from being damaged by heat when the water level is low and to romote a circulation of the water in the si e water le s where the circulation is normally sluggis ,so as to prevent the precipitation of mud and other solids on the mud ring and liability of mud burning and cracking of the fire-box sheets.

' As is well known, a locomotive siphon is a device applied to the fire-box and sometimes to the combustion chamber. of a locomotive boiler for the purpose of increasing the heating surface and at the same time acting as a protection to the crown sheet, the rapid circulati'bn set up by the siphon causing an overflow of wate onto the crown sheet, thus at the forward end near the back flue sheet. Therefore, if the water level in the boiler.

falls below the proper height, the front part of the fire-box or crown sheet will become uncovered and, being subjected to the radiant the sheets are 'pulled away from the staybolts because of the internal pressure exerted.

This dropping of the locomotive crown sheet.

sets up a very dangerous condition as a result of which a violent explosion may follow, with ossible loss of life, due to the sudden flas ing into steam of large quantities of hot water under high pressure.

stantially triangular drop boxes or water chambers arranged within the fire-box and having a longitudinally extending top outlet slot communicating with the water-space above the crown sheet, the walls of said'outlet slot being defined by flanged walls of the water box which are fitted and welded in a similarly shaped opening cut in the crovyn sheet, the box having an inlet neck at the base of its front portion which is welded to the throat sheet and communicates with a lower part of the water containing space of the boiler formed by the front water leg. An objection to this type of siphon is that its inlet neck is of restricted cross-sectional area compared with the cross-sectional area of the body of the siphon, and as the'upper rear portion of the siphon body and the 1nlet neck are welded or otherwise attached to the crown sheet and throat sheet, respec tively, the connections being rigid in order to make them. sufliciently strong to withstand the internal steam pressure, such portions of the fire-box sheets and the siphon body andneck are prevented from having proper degrees of expansion andpontraction under the internal heat and pressure and are subjected in service to such strains as to a cause within a comparatively short period of time cracks or fissures in the attached parts of the siphon which set up a dangerous condition in the fire-box. Accordingly vfrequent examinations and expensive repairs are required in order to keep the siphon in a safe working condition. Attempts have been made to overcome such objections to siphons constructed and attached in the manner described, by connecting siphon inlet heat 1n the fire-box, becomes overheated and sofar as we are-aware.

In another application for patent filed of even date herewith, Serial No. 500,121, we

have shown the application of'our invention to a locomotive fire-box boiler of standard ty e without a combustion. chamber, and as roadly described and claimed there- 'in our novel construction of siphon steam generator and water circulator comprising a longitudinally extending trough su orted solely by the crown sheet within t e re-box and opening at its top through the crown sheet 1nto the water space there above, said trough being of substantially equal depth throughout and connected at its base by flexible tubes with a side sheet of the fire-box and the related side water leg, whereby the steam generating and water circuJating capacities of the boiler are increased, the deposit of mud and other sedimentary matter reduced, and the steam generator and water circulator so arranged as to permit free expansion and contraction of the boiler sheets and parts of the generator and circulator to prevent the formation of cracks and to otherwise overcome the objections referred to as existing in prior devices of this character.

The present application shows a further carrying forward of the invention in its application to a fire-box boiler having a combustion chamber into which the forward ends of the water troughs extend, and supplemental tubes connecting said troughs-- with an inner sheet of the barrel, whereby the steam generating and water circulating capacities of the boiler are still further increased.

The object of the present invention, therefore, is to rovide a mode of mounting our improved siphon steam generator and water circulator 1n a lOQOIIlOl'JYQ; boller fire-box having a combustion chamber in such man-- her as to increase the generation of steam and circulation of water in a simple, reliable and efiicient manner.

With these and-other objects in view, the invention .consistsof the features of con struction, combination and arran ement of parts, hereinafter fully descrl ed and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Flg. 1 isa vertical longitudinal section I through the fire-box of a. locomotive boiler.

embodying our invention, taken on line 1- 1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '2 is a vertical transverse section through thefire-box taken on line 2-2 of Fig 1.

ig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 3-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 through the combustion chamber of the boiler.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates a locomotive fire-box of a standard type comprising a door sheet '2, flue sheet 3, side sheets 4 and a crown sheet 5. The crown sheet is tramsversely arched or curved as usual and mer into the side sheets, and forming a contmuation to a proper disclosure of our invention.

of the flue sheet is the throat sheet 6. The side sheets'and crown sheet extend rear water leg 12, side water legs 13,-and

the water space 14 between the crown sheet 5 and the roof sheet 7. The dotted line 15 represents the normal grate surface. The fire-box is secured to and supported from the outer wrapper or shell by means of the usual longitudinal and transverse rows' of staybolts, not shown in detail as unessen i ilzlil e fire-box is one of that type in which the flue sheet 3 is disposed in advance of the throat sheet 6 and forms with the crown and side sheets a combustion chamber 1 extending forwardly a distance into the barrel 1".

The construction so far described is t ical of a type of locomotive boiler in genera use and need not for that reason bedescribed in greater detail.

1 Disposed within the fire-box is one or more si hon generators and water circulators em odymg our invention, two of sueh generators and circulators being. shown in the present instance arranged-one posite dinal center of t e firesides of the longitu box and between the sameiand the fire-box side walls. Each of these siphon generators and water circulators comprises a troughlike body or box 16, which isjclosed at its.

bottom and each end and o n at its top. This-trough-like body may of the same depth throughout, from end to end thereof, and extends the major portion of the distance between the flue and door sheets, its

forward end projecting forwardly beyond t e throat sheet 6 and extendthe plane of ing into the combustion chamberl". The tron h is supported from. the crown sheet 5 and commumcates at its top'with the water space 14. In practice, the trough is prefera 1y fitted and secured in position by cutting away a portion of the crown sheet to form a receivin slot and flanging out the side and end wal s of the trough at their upper edges, as shown at 17 and welding such flanged out edges to the edge walls of the slot in the crown sheet, as indicated at 18.- An elonrovided, whereby, in the operation of the oiler, a constant siphonicflow of the water from the trough intothe space 14 and over m gated passage 19 for'the flow of water hetween the trough andwater space 14 is thus the crown sheet is secured, so that in the event of the water falling below a normal working level in the boiler, and exposing a ortion of the crown sheet, such portion will be protected by the siphonic flow from the trough and overheating of the crown sheet by the heat from the fire-box v effectually prevented.

area and capacity of the boiler are materially increased. In practice the trough may be of any suitable cross sectional shape, but it is preferred to make it of greatest width at its base and tapering therefrom gradually .and uniformly, and thus diminishing in width, toward the passage 19. The sides of the trough thus converge from the trough bottom toward the flanged side ed es 17 whereby the tendency of the up owing water to be separated by the generated steam bubbles from the side walls of the trough. is prevented andthe water caused to flow in contact with such walls, thus preventing the same from being left bare and possibly overheated and damaged. These walls of the.

trough are united by staybolts 20 whereby they are strengthened and reinforced to withstand the imposed strains.

It will be observed that this construction of the drop water trough reduces the size of the opening or openings necessary to be cut in the crown sheet, for the. reception of the trough or troughs employed, so that the crown sheet is not deprived of any great portion of its material and remains almost entirely intact and of unitary construction, so that the strength of the crown sheet is not impaired,.and all the advantages of a unitarysheet formation remains, including the unbroken integral surfaces over which the water may freely flow. The disadvantages of a non-unitar or built-up t'y e of crown sheet are t ereby efi'ectual y avoided.

Each trough 16 is connected'at regular intervals throughout its length by water circulating tubes 21 with the water le 13 at the contiguous side of'the boiler. T us the two water troughs 16 communicate through separate groups of tubes 21 with the water legs 13 at the o posite sides of the boiler. The tubes of eac set communicate at their upper ends with the bottom of the trough lfiand at their lower ends with the water leg 13 at a desired low level above the level of the mud ring 22. Preferabl of the tubes'are .fitted and rolle into 0 enings in the bottom of the trough I 16 an side sheet 4 and welded to the trough bottom and side sheet. By arranging these tubes so that they connect with the side water leg at a comparatively low level, the

the ends or beaded are kept to a still fu 'rther tubes may be bent so as to extend on a longitudinal curve of comparatively wide radius, thus ada ting the tubes to bend or flex easily an freely and to permit indelpendent flexing motions of the crown and si e sheets and walls of the troughs, without resistance from any of the parts of the fire-box installation, thus overcoming the objections to prior siphons of the character described and. of the fire-box walls, water any tendenc troughs, or t e connections warp or crack. 7

We also 'rovide supplemental tubes 21" connecting t e bottom of the forwardly extending endof each trough within the combustion chamber 1 with an inside sheet of the barrel 1 and the bottom portion ofthe water space 1 of the barrel 1n advance of the throat sheet and the front water leg 11. These tubes 21, like the tubes 21, are longis tudinally curved to secure flexibility and may have their lower end portions bent to between them to lie in difi'erent vertical planes or at different angles to the vertical so as to connect with laterally spaced-portions of the water space Thus it will be seen that each siphon body or trough 16 is supported directly and wholly from the crown sheet, and is connected by circulating tubes 21 and 21 of relatively small cross-sectional area, and relatively long in proportion to their sectional area, with the side sheets of theside water legs of the fire-box ortion and side water spaces of the barre? ortion of the boiler which tubes are 'accor mgly of freely bendable or flexible character, so that no rigid connections are employed or resistance set up which will revent the fire-box sheets of tubes 21 and 21, whereby a washout too may be readily and conveniently introduced for the pur ose of washingthe troughs and tubes free rom mud and-other deposits at desirable intervals. This is of great importa'nce and advantage as the connection of the troughs 16 throu h the tubes 21 and 21" with the lower portions of the side water legs of the fire-box and side water spaces of the barrel creates a strong circulation of the water between the crown water spaces and also portions of the side water spaces, tendto keep the latter-named water spaces posits liable to cause clogging and mud urning and other damages. By thismeans also thewater containing s aces throughout agree free from in substantially free from mud and other deating capacity and efficiency of the sedimentary deposits and the steam enpro1 er still further increased. Our improved construction of siphon steam generator and, water circulator permits of the use of the conventional arch tubes 24 and arch brick 25 without change from conventional practice.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that ourimproved construction of siphon steam generator and water circulator not only increases the steam generating capacity of a boiler to a greater degree than is ossible ut ena with ordinary locomotive siphons, sures the keeping of the water ata higher degree of purityfiand reduces liability of damage due .to cracks from internal strains and the expense'necessary to keep the boiler in prime working condition. With the use of two siphons andsets of circulating tubes in a fire-box of ordinary type without a combustion chamber, and having 228 square feet of heating surface, the heating surface is increased by the si hons and tubes to an extent of 77 square eet, without interfering with the free combustion of the fuel or circulation of the fuel gases on normal action of the fire-box. In the t pe of boiler herein disclosed,- having a combustion chamber in which theforward ends of the troughs may hegextended, thus increasing the length of the 'trou hs, and the use of the tubes 21 con nected tl ierewith, the heating surface of the siphon attachment will be increased from 77 square feet to 103 square feet, with corr onding advantages, l aving thus fully described our invention, we claim 1. The combination with a locomotive boiler havin a fire-box, a combustion cham-- ber atthe ont thereof, a side water leg,

I and a barrel, of a water steamin and circulating device comprising a troug supported by theacrown sheet of the fire-box and extending longitudinally of the fire-box and into the combustion chamber, said trough communicatin g at its top through the crown. sheet with the water space of the boiler Y above the level of the crown sheet, a set of water circulating .tubes connecting the tro h with the side water leg, and water tub connecting the part of the trough in the combustion chamber with I the water space of the barrel.

2. The combination with a locomotive boiler having a lire-box, a combustion cham ber at the front thereof, a side water leg, and a barrel, of a water steamE and circulating device comprising a troug supportedby the crown sheet of the fire-box and extending longitudinally of the fire-box and into the combustion chamber, said trough communicating at its top through the crown sheet with the water space of the boiler above the level of the crown sheet, a set of water circulating tubes connecting the trough with the sidewater leg, and water tubes connecting the part of t e the combustion chamber with the water space of the barrel, all of said tubes being trough in lating device comprising a trough supported by the crownvsheet of the fire-box and extending longitudinally of the fire-box and into the combustion chamber, said trough communicating at its top through the crown sheet with .the water space of the boiler above the level of the crown sheet, a set of water circulating tubes connecting the.

trough" with the side water leg, water tubes connecting the part of the trough in the combustion chamber with the water space of the barrel, all of said tubes being longitudinally curved tobend freely and permit ready fiexion of the parts of the boiler structure to which the trougln and tubes are attached, and suitably closed openings in the boiler shell in line with the upper and lower ends of the tubes through which a washout device may be inserted to wash out the trough and tubes.

4. The combination with a locomotive boiler havin a fire-box, a combustion chamber at the Front thereof, a side water leg, and a barrel, of water steaming and circulating devices'arranged at each side of the longitudinal center of the fire-box and each comprising a trough supported by the crown sheet of-the fire-box and extendingthere from into I the combustion chamber, said trough communicating at its top through the crown sheet with-the waterv space ofthe boiler above the level of the crown sheet, a

set of water tubes connecting each trough with the side water leg at the same side of the fire-box, and water tubes connecting that part of each trough disposed in the combustion chamber with 'the\ water space of the barrel.

5. The combination. with .a locomotive boiler having a fire-box, a combustion chamber at the front thereof, a side Water leg, and a barrel, of water steaming and circulating devices arranged at each side of the longitudinal center of the fire-box and each comprising a trough supported by the crown sheet of the fire-box and extending therefrom into the combustion chamber, said trough communicating at its top through the crown sheet with the water space of the boiler above the level of the crown sheet, a set of water tubes connecting each trough with the sidewater leg at the same side of the fire-box, and water tubes connecting that part of each trough disposed in the combustion chamber with the water space of the barrel, all of said tubes being longitudinally e *5 curved so as to bend freely and permit ready fiexion of the parts of the boiler structure to which said trough and tubes are attachedi, 6. The combination with a locomotive boiler having a fire-box, a combustion chamher at the front thereof, a side water leg, and a barrel, of water steaming and circu- L, lating devices arranged at each side of the longitudinal center of the fire-box and each comprising a trough supported by the crown sheet of the fire-box and extending therefrom into the combustion chamber, said I trough communicating at its top through the crown sheet with the water space of the N-bpiler above the level of the crown sheet, a set of water tubes connecting each trough 1 with the side water leg at the same side of the fi e-box, water tubes connecting that part of each trou h disposed in the combustion chamber with the water space of the barrel, all of said tubes being longitudinally curved to bend freely and permit ready 7 fiexion of the parts of the boiler structure to which the troughs and tubes are attached, and suitably closed openings in. the boiler shell in line with the upper'and lower ends of the tubes through which a washoutdevice may be inserted to wash out thetroughs and tubes. In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

v GEORGE H. EMERSON. WILLIAM B. VVHITSITT. 

